UPLIFT Crew Member

Seasonal, Full-Time or Part-Time

Reports to: Crew Leader

Job Overview: 

An UpLift Crew Member will be an essential part of the team in providing environmental services, which will mostly consist of forest restoration work maintaining established stream restoration projects- manual removal of invasive species, reinforcing trees shelters, collecting litter from sites, and documenting findings from within the site. Other work may include the maintenance of landscaping projects such as tree plantings, conservation landscapes, rain gardens, and bioretentions, removing debris from waterways following major storm events, and more. With direction from their Crew Leader, Assistant Crew Leader, and operational staff, Crew Members will learn how to work as a team to successfully manage invasive species in the Bay region as well as being exposed to a variety of career opportunities in the environmental and stormwater industries. Through the UpLift program, Howard EcoWorks provides training in domain skills such as identifying native and non-native plants, construction techniques for environmental restoration projects, proper tool usage and care, and so forth.  As a workforce development program, the UpLift program also includes soft-skill training and coaching to give one a leg-up on finding a job in the environmental industry.

Responsibilities & Duties:

  • Manual invasive species management across various sites

  • Maintenance of environmental landscaping practices such as conservation landscapes, rain gardens, bioretention facilities, native tree plantings, and stream restoration projects

    • Main duties include pruning shrubs and trees, cutting and uprooting invasive species, reinforcing tree shelters, and collecting trash

  • Inspect and clean local streams after major storm events

  • Remove tree limbs, overgrowth, and other debris from local streams

  • Occasional trash removals

  • Properly use, store and care for all equipment, tools, materials, etc.

Qualifications & Requirements:

  • Must be 18 years of age

  • Ability to work in a variety of outdoor settings including forests and streams

  • Able to work with a team as well as independently

  • Able to physically stand, bend, squat, and lift up to 40 pounds

  • Must have reliable transportation to initial job site

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Passion and/or interest in the outdoors

  • Previous experience working outdoors or in landscaping

  • Flexible with changes in day to day tasks

  • May need to use their personal vehicle during the course of work.  Mileage is reimbursed at the then-applicable IRS rates

Wages: $15/hr

Benefits:

  • Professional development including career development, tool safety, environmental literacy and various green infrastructure certifications as well as exposure to a variety of environmentally-related careers and networking opportunities

  • Paid sick leave – 1 hour of Sick and Safe Leave accumulated for every 30 hours worked, accumulating up to 40 hours per year.  Accrual starts on the first day of employment and one is eligible to use sick and safe leave after the completion of 30 days of employment

  • Seasonal full-time employees are given one personal day each calendar year and are eligible to use it after 30 continuous days of employment, which may be used in one 8-hour increment or two 4-hour increments

  • Seasonal full-time employees are granted the following paid holidays, to the extent a listed holiday falls within the timeframe of the seasonal contract:

  • New Year’s Day

  • Memorial Day

  • Independence Day

  • Labor Day

  • Thanksgiving Day

  • Christmas Day

  • Option to enroll in the EcoWorks 401(k) plan

Job Timeline:

  • This is ideally a full-time position. Longer contracts and/or part-time positions can be negotiated.

  • Standard field crew hours are Monday through Friday from 7AM to 3:30 PM, with a half-hour unpaid lunch break and 2 paid 15 minute breaks per day.

  • Weekend work opportunities may be available but are not mandatory.

 

Apply through our website or through this link.

Any questions can be directed to Campbell Shepard, Program Manager @ CShepard@howardecoworks.org